IT's known far and wide and has become of one of our most loved destinations of all time, the Metrocentre in Gateshead.

It made the headlines last week as its future was thrown into doubt following the collapse of the company that owns and runs it.

But as it looks set to stay open to shoppers for now, The Northern Echo is looking back at how the centre has changed over the years.

And yes, for those of you old enough to remember its theme park, rollercoaster and pirate ship, we've included Metroland.

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An often unknown fact, the centre was paid for by the Church Commissioners of England - it was completed in 1986.

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Plans had been drawn up by Cameron Hall Developments, owned by Sir John Hall who purchased the land for £100,000 in the 70s.

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It was built in stages with various anchor stores being added to the site over several years - it has continued to be modernised through the years.

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But the Metrocentre isn't just known for its shops - the MetroGnomes were a mainstay of people's vists.

Spreading joy, different colour MetroGnomes represented each of the centre's four malls as this scene in 1997 shows.

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Metrocentre made history after it held the first chapel service ever to take place in a shopping centre anywhere in Britain.

Father Noel Colahan from Hexham, Northumberland was pictured at the chapel in February 1997.

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Much of 'The Village' remains today but it was a sprawling area with a bustling cafe in the middle of the site - this was the scene in 2001.

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The MetroGnomes were also known to get into the Christmas spirit with the MetroGnomes' free Christmas pantomime most years.

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The Metrocentre has lived through key dates as shoppers pictured in 2005 pause for the three minutes of silence in respect of the thousands of people killed in the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster.

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Before Primark took over the former Woolworths store in the Yellow Mall, it was located in the Red Mall and occupied a much smaller space.

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The MetroGnomes evolved over time with subtle changes to their costumes and size. Here's all four in 2008.

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This area has been redeveloped and no longer features a Hollywood film set - here's Escobars in 2013 before the area was refurbished.

The Metroland

For those old enough to remember, Metroland in the Yellow Mall came complete with a rollercoaster, pirate ship, waltzers, expansive play area and its own railway.

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Here's the rollercoaster in action in 2000.

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Jemma Wilkie of Sunderland has her picture taken during a Sugar Cover Girl Roadshow at Metroland in 1998.

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Metroland attracted many VIP visits over the years, here'sJoe Pasquale and Leslie Grantham onboard the Pirates Galleon.

Do you have any memories or pictures of Metrocentre back in the day? Email jim.scott@newsquest.co.uk